BAE Systems Hunter Class Frigate Program

Project at a glance
Contact Details
Hunter program September 2021 update
The Hunter Class Frigate Program is making strong progress towards the delivery of a superior anti-submarine warfare capability for the Royal Australian Navy.
- Prototyping commenced in December 2020 as planned, two major design milestones (Systems Definition Review and Design Separation) are expected to occur this year and the program is exceeding its Australian Contract Expenditure targets with contracts continuing to be placed with Australian industry.
- Prototyping will enable processes, systems, tools, facilities and workforce competencies to be tested and refined, providing a solid operational foundation ahead of construction commencing on first of class.
- Construction of the first unit within Block 16 is well underway. The unit is currently pulsing between work stations in Building 20. When it is completed, the unit will be moved into Building 21 where it will form part of a block.
Watch the block build process here.
- Currently more than 1,300 people are working on the Hunter program.
- We continue to mature the Hunter class frigate design in close collaboration with our Customer, the Department of Defence, and our combat systems partners, Lockheed Martin Australia and Saab Australia.
- We continue to engage with Australian industry and our Original Equipment Manufacturers in order to maximise Australian industrial capability. We are placing contracts with Australian businesses and testing and maturing supply chain solutions for the program’s manufacturing phase.
- A significant technology and knowledge transfer body of work is underway to bring the design, processes, IP, supply chain and knowledge from the Type 26 program in the UK to Australia, building Continuous Naval Shipbuilding and sovereign shipbuilding capability.
- We continue to invest in research and technology, and are collaborating with academics, researchers and small and medium enterprises to develop, test and trial advanced manufacturing processes and techniques that will lead to productivity, quality and safety outcomes at the Osborne shipyard.
More information - HCFP Quarterly Update
A word from Craig Lockhart, Managing Director, BAE Systems Maritime Australia
Read here.
More Australian suppliers involved
Read the latest update here.
Collaboration key to innovation
Read here
Hunter Update
Click here to request access to the monthly newsletter detailing news on the Hunter Class Frigate Program.
Project Background
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